The Tiny house Blog

Benefits of Composting Toilets

By
Jason Francis
Designed and built over 100 custom tiny homes, lived on a sailboat for 9 months, and loves to live life to the fullest with his wife and their 4 kids.
Updated on:
April 19, 2024
Benefits of Composting Toilets

Image Source: Canva

As environmental challenges intensify, a wave of green solutions has surged forth, one of which is the innovative concept of composting toilets. Offering a fresh perspective on waste management, these eco-friendly toilets serve as pioneers in a new era of sustainable sanitation.

This piece seeks to demystify the benefits of composting toilets, providing the framework for understanding why they are indeed an eco efficient solution for sanitation.

Benefits of Composting Toilets

Composting toilets come with an array of benefits, predominantly in environmental conservation, health aspects, economic factors, and off grid options. They also require less maintenance, catering to modern minimalist living.

Environmental Advantages

Reducing Water Usage

Unlike conventional toilets, composting toilets do not use water to flush waste. Instead, they transform human waste into compost through biological processes. This translates into immense water savings. An average of 6.8 Billion gallons of water are used for flushing down toilets every day in America. Composting toilets play a significant role in combating the global water crisis.

Fostering Soil Fertility

In addition to saving water, composting toilets contribute to soil regeneration. The compost produced is rich in nutrients, making it an ideal, natural fertilizer for gardens and small scale farms. This is especially beneficial amid the increasing need for organic farming as a sustainable food production method.

Diminishing Waste Production

With composting toilets, wastewater treatment facilities' workload is reduced since human waste is turned into compost on site. As such, composting toilets also help to decrease the volume of waste entering landfills.

Health Aspects

Preventing Pathogen Spread

Composting toilets help to curtail the spread of disease causing pathogens found in human feces. Through the composting process, harmful bacteria and viruses are neutralized, providing an effective means of promoting public health.

Minimizing Odor and Insects

Contrary to common assumptions, composting toilets minimize bad odors and insect activity. This is because the composting process involves covering waste with a layer of carbon rich material, which suppresses odors and deters pests.

Image Source: Canva

Economic Factors

Saving on Water Bills

Composting toilets are not just eco friendly; they're wallet friendly too. By utilizing no water for flushing, they help to significantly reduce household water bills.

Reducing Septic System Costs

Additionally, homeowners with composting toilets save on the costs associated with septic system installation and maintenance. This is particularly advantageous in remote areas where installing a traditional septic system is prohibitive due to terrain or cost.

No need to pay dump stations when traveling with your house

For those living a nomadic life in tiny houses or RVs, having a composting toilet eliminates the need to regularly find and pay for dump stations. This provides both cost savings and convenience.

No plumbing needed

Given that composting toilets don't need to be connected to sewerage or septic systems, they inherently save homeowners from plumbing expenses.

Off grid Option

Ability to Settle Down Right Away From Traveling with Your Tiny House

A composting toilet provides the freedom to park your house wherever you desire without worrying about hooking up to sewerage systems, making it an ideal solution for tiny house owners or nomads.

Freedom to Park Your House Wherever

Being free from reliance on sewerage systems, one can park their house anywhere, even in remote locations. Composting toilets enhance the flexibility to settle wherever preferred, be it by the mountains, near a lake, or in a desert.

Less Maintenance

Minimize Plumbing

With no need for plumbing, composting toilets absolve homeowners from the hassles of dealing with plumbing issues. They offer an easier and more straightforward solution for managing human waste.

Ease of Installation

Due to their simple design and operation, composting toilets are relative. Composting toilets are not just eco friendly; they're wallet friendly too. By utilizing no water for flushing, they help to significantly reduce household water bills. They also trade the hefty expenses of traditional sewage systems for organic compost, adding a whole new meaning to the phrase "going green". 

Conclusion

Composting toilets represent a marriage of convenience, economy, and environmental stewardship. By significantly reducing water usage, aiding soil fertility, and curbing waste production, they offer a sustainable solution in an increasingly resource strained world.

Utilizing composting toilets is one effective way individuals can contribute to sustainable living. Together, we can take steps towards a greener, more sustainable future, and choosing composting toilets is a significant stride in the right direction.

References and Further Reading

For those interested in exploring more about composting toilets, please refer to the following resources:

  1. The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins
  2. The Scoop on Poop by Dan Chiras

In these materials, you will find further discussions about the environmental, health, and economic benefits of composting toilets, as well as practical instructions on using and maintaining them.

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